Plug and socket electrical connection assembly

Abstract

A plug and socket electrical connection assembly for electrically connecting a pair of cables is disclosed. The connection assembly includes a socket connector adapted to be terminated to one cable of the pair and an elongate plug connector adapted to electrically terminated the other cable of the pair. A plug extent of the plug connector is designed for insertion into a socket extent of the socket connector to establish electrical connection therebetween. A deformable electrically insulative wiping element is attached to the front of the plug extent. The wiping element is dimensioned to snugly fit within the socket extent to wipe any debris or contamination therefrom upon insertion of the plug connector into the socket connector.

I claim: 
     
       1. A plug and socket assembly for electrically interconnecting a pair of electrical cables, said assembly comprising: an elongate socket connector having a termination extent adapted to be electrically connected to one cable of said pair and an opposed socket extent, said socket extent having an elongate open ended bore therein being defined by a bottom wall and a longitudinal bore side wall;   an elongate plug connector having a termination extent adapted to be electrically connected to the second cable of said pair and an opposed plug extent, said plug extent being defined by a front wall and a longitudinal plug side wall extending rearwardly therefrom, said plug extent being insertible into said socket bore to establish electrical connection between said bore side wall and said plug side wall and thereby establishing electrical connection between said pair of electrical cables; and   an axially deformed electrically insulative wiping element attached to the front wall of said plug extent, said wiping element being dimensioned for snugly fitting within said socket bore and slidably engaging said bore side wall upon said insertion of said plug extent thereinto.   
     
     
       2. An assembly of claim 1 further including: a first elongate sealing housing formed of elastomeric material having a cable receiving open end, an opposed open connection end and a cavity therebetween which accommodates said socket connector; and   a second elongate sealing housing formed of elastomeric material having a cable receiving open end an opposed connection end and a cavity therebetween which accommodates said plug connector;   wherein said open connection ends of each of s aid first and second housings are interengagable in a sealing relationship upon insertion of said plug extent into said socket bore.   
     
     
       3. An assembly of claim 1 when said socket bore is cylindrical having an inner diameter defined by said bore side wall and when said plug extent is cylindrical having an outer diameter defined by said plug side wall, said plug extent being insertibly received in said socket bore along a common central axis. 
     
     
       4. An assembly of claim 3 wherein said wiping element includes an elongate cylindrical body and circumferential skirt means extending outwardly therefrom for wiping engagement with said side wall of said socket bore. 
     
     
       5. An assembly of claim 4 wherein said circumferential skirt means includes plural arcuate skirt elements, each skirt element traversing an arc less than the total circumference of said cylindrical body, one of said skirt elements being located at a position longitudinally spaced from another skirt element. 
     
     
       6. An assembly of claim 5 wherein said wiping element includes an elongate channel extending from one end of said cylindrical body, said channel extending between longitudinally spaced skirt elements. 
     
     
       7. An assembly of claim 6 wherein said socket connector and said plug connector include cooperative looking means for locking said plug connector to said socket connector. 
     
     
       8. An assembly of claim 7 wherein said locking means includes bayonet connection elements interengagable under the bias of spring. 
     
     
       9. An assembly of claim 8 wherein said spring includes said deformable wiping element. 
     
     
       10. An assembly of claim 9 wherein said wiping element cylindrical body is longitudinally resiliently compressible. 
     
     
       11. An assembly for electrically interconnecting a pair of electrical cables comprising: a socket connector for terminating one cable of said pair, said socket connector including an elongate open ended socket bore having a bottom wall and a longitudinal bore side wall;   a plug connector for terminating the other cable of said pair, said plug connector including an elongate plug extent having a front wall and a longitudinal plug side wall, said plug extent being insertable into said socket bore to establish electrical connection therebetween;   bayonet locking means for securing said plug connector to said socket connector, said bayonet locking means being operable under a spring bias; and a resiliently deformable wiping element secured to said front wall of said plug extent and deformably engagable with said side wall and said bottom wall of said socket bore upon insertion of said plug extent into said socket bore, said resiliant deformation of said wiping element providing said bayonet locking means operable spring bias.   
     
     
       12. An assembly of claim 11 wherein said wiping element includes extending skirt means slidably engagable with said bore side wall upon insertion of said plug extent into said socket bore. 
     
     
       13. An assembly of claim 12 wherein said socket connector and said plug connector are formed from conductive metal and wherein said wiping element is formed from electrically insulative material. 
     
     
       14. An assembly of claim 13 further including: a first elongate-sealing boot positionable over said socket connector, said first sealing boot having an open end adjacent said socket bore; and   a second elongate sealing boot positionable over said plug connector, said second sealing boot having an open end adjacent said plug extent front wall.   
     
     
       15. An assembly of claim 14 wherein said first sealing boot engages said second sealing boot adjacent said open ends thereof in sealed relationship upon said insertion of said plug extent into said socket bore. 
     
     
       16. A plug and socket assembly for electrically interconnecting a pair of electrical cables, said assembly comprising: an elongate socket connector having a termination extent adapted to be electrically connected to one cable of said pair and an opposed socket extend, said socket extent having an elongate open ended cylindrical bore therein being defined by a bottom wall and a longitudinal bore side wall;   an elongate plug connector having a termination extent adapted to be electrically connected to the second cable of said pair and an opposed cylindrical plug extent, said plug extend being defined by a front wall and a longitudinal plug side wall, said plug extent being insertable into said socket bore along a common central axis to establish electrical connection between said bore side wall and said plug side wall and thereby establishing electrical connection between said pair of electrical cables; and   a deformable electrically insulative wiping element attached to the front wall of said plug extent, said wiping element including an elongate cylindrical body and circumferential skirt means extending outwardly therefrom for wiping engagement with said side wall of said socket bore upon insertion of said plug extent thereinto.